Improvement in machines for trimming boxes



`C. BOPP.

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING BOXES.

No.188,573. Patented March 20,1877.

N. PETERS` FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

boot and shoe boxes.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

CHRIST BOPP, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AgSSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. 1LySWIFT, OF `SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMEINT"INMNCHINE'S FOR TRIMMING BOXES.

Specification forming Ipart of LettersPatent No. 188,573, dated March20, 1877; application tiled August 2, 1875.

To all whom t` may concern:

Beit knownthat I, VCHRIST Born, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the Stateof` New Yfork,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forTrimming Boxes, of which the following is a specification:

The object of the invention is to conveniently and rapidly plane 0E theoverhangingends of the pieces of boardsforming the top,sides, and bottomof a box. In the manufacture of rectangular wooden boxes for packing,.and the like, it is common to use thinner material for the bottom andsides than for the ends, and to nail the bottom, top, and-sidesl uponthe ends. The finished boxes show the sides, top, and bottom terminatingexactly flush-With the outer faces of the end pieces. In practice it iscommon to attain this condition by setting them a little overhanging,and then planing ofi the surplus. My improvedmachinemarries planes forthis purpose-inra vertically-reciprocating sash or frame,theplane-cutters being peculiarly mounted, and adjustable thereon.

The box, in being planed, is supported upon a table, which extends up soclose to the plane of the cutting-ed ges as to save the wood fromsplitting oi' as each c-utter terminates its work, and is leaving theedges of its board.

Boxes of which the depth is exactly equal to the Width do not requireall my adjustments. Most boxes are wider than their depth, like Allthese require peculiar provisions to allow the dressing of the entireend at twovoperations.

To dress the-end of a box, I lay the box upon a table, with one corneragainst a gage set on the table, and push the box forward on the tableuntil the end is dressed by the planeirons. One plane runs close to thegage, and 'dresses the board which is upright at that position. Theother plane-iron is at a proper distance therefrom to dress the oppositeside of the end. Then turning the box quarter over, so that it lies uponanother face, and again pressing it over against the gage, andpresenting the same end to the cutters while the plane-iron nearlyopposite the gage is in position to dress one edge, it will be foundthat,

with the raisin-box or the shoe-box, the other plane-iron will come inthe wrong position.

I provide three plane-irons. One is always used. The others are set atdierent distances therefrom, and are used alternately, according to theposition in which the box is presented.

I make the machine double, and allow two workmen to operate at the sametable at the same time.

The drawings represent what I consider the best means of carrying outthe invention, in which Figurelis a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a topview, with the sash and guides in section.

Referring to the drawing, A is the fixed frame-work. A1 is a horizontalbench or rigid table forming a part thereof, and extending quite up tothe line of the cutters. A are vertical guides, adapted to firmlysupport and guide a stout rectangular frame or sash,.D, of cast-iron orother suitable material, which carries tools. D1 D2 D3, somewhatanalogous to ordinary carpenters planes, but mounted in a nearlyvertical position, and set at each end in ,a deep groove extending alongthe interior of the sash D. Each plane carries a planeiron set in acavity extending through it.

Some of the planes may be adjusted outward and inward from the centralline, and may be set in any required position by means of hand-screws ele2, Svc., extending through stout slotted cross-bars E, fixed on theback face of the sash D. Gr H are cross-bars serving as gages. They aresecured in any desired position on the table A] by means of handscrews gh, standing in a slot in the table, as represented. K is a lilik orpitman, connecting the sash D to the crank L on the shaft L. Thiscrank-shaft L is turned by a steam-engine or other suitable power,either directly or through the intervention of belts or gearing.Aplane-iron is mounted in each of the adjustable planes D1 D2, &c., andalso in the upright side bars of the framing or sash D. The plane-ironsin the latter are marked m, and are set in oblique positions to the lineof their motion by being held in oblique holes or throats, as indicated.The other plane-irons m1 m2 are mounted in throats in their respectiveplanes, which extend directly across such planes, and are thereforeeasier of construction and of' adjustment. The proper inclination of thecutting-edges of these latter is obtained by inclining the whole body ofthe planes D1 D2, &c. The inclination of either or'all maybe varied, inpractice, to get the best effect.

It is important that the Wood be planed o" by a drawing cut, and thatthe face ofthe cutting-edge shall be a little away from the center ofthe end of the box being treated.

Thus, it' the plane-irons, in removing the surplus or overhangingmaterial of the boards around the end, carry their work a little toofar, and commence to plane the material of the end itself, they willonly remove a little ofthe edge, and will leave the surface treated in asmooth condition, and leave the edge of the planing -work beveledv at asufeiently gradual inclination.

The double form of the machine [attach importance to; but some of theadvantages of the invention may be realized by a single machinethat isto say, a sash, D, which is only about half the width here represented,and with a single gage.

Bymakng the machine double I not only obtain the etl'ect of two smallermachines with only one set of driving-gear, but also am able to dressthe very large boxes which are occasionally required and when useddouble, one side may be used with large boxes, which extend more thanhalt' the width, and the remaining portion ot' the table utilized forthe smaller ones.

To use my machine the undressed boxes are taken one by one by theattendants, and placed on the table A1 with one end presented to theplane-irons, and with one corner thereof against the gage-bar H. In thisposition the projecting ends of the boards are plancd od' by the ironsm2 m. Then the box is drawn back a little toward the attendant andturned quarter over, and again thrust forward. Now the projecting endsof the boards are dressed by the plane-irons m2 m1, and that end of thebox being now completely dressed, the box is turned and the other endsubjected to similar treatment. Another attendant may, in the meantime,be operating on boxes ot' the same or different size or form, on theopposite side of a machine, pressing the corners of the boxes againstthe gage Gr.

Experiments indicate that my machine will make one inans labor some twoor three fold as effective as heretofore in this branch oflabor.

The plane D1 should be set a very little back of the planes on each sidethereof, so that it will not act on the end of the box when the planeson each side are working on their respective edges.

I claim as my invention- 1. The sash D, carrying planes Dl D2 D3, andplane-irons m m1 m2, in combination with the table A1 and gages G H, asand for the purpose herein specified.

2. In combination with the table A1 and reciprocating sash D, theduplicate sets of cutters and duplicate gages G H, as and for thepurposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence ot' twosubscribing witnesses.

CHRIST BOPP. Witnesses:

CEAS. C. STETsoN, J. K. OULAHAN.

